With Daniel Lippmann
DENTON’S SNAGS CASTAGNETTI: David Castagnetti has left Mehlman Castagnetti Rosen & Thomasto join the top K Street law firm he co-founded almost two decades ago Dentons global consultants as a partner. Castagnetti, who was previously a partner at the firm, announced last April that he would step down from his leadership and managerial roles at the firm but remain as a senior advisor as he focuses on a “new chapter in my professional life.”
— Earlier this year he drastically scaled back his lobbying and only reported activities on behalf of Texas Instruments last quarter, according to data. He has previously campaigned for corporate giants such as lobbying Boeingthe Round table for companies, Procter & Gamble, hp, rafters and Walmart.
— “Organizations and multinational corporations are increasingly faced with global challenges. The opportunity to join Denton’s Global Advisors is truly a unique opportunity to work on broad public affairs and business issues at a leading global company,” Castagnetti PI said in an email. “It allows me to roll up my sleeves and help a company in its early growth phase. It really is an incredible opportunity.” He did not say whether clients will follow him to the new office.
– He’s the newest major hire at DGA, a spin-off of the Dentons law firm, which includes the Biden-affiliated consulting firm Albright Stonebridge Group. DGA rented out last month John Merriganwho presided DLA PiperFederal Law and Policy Group, MacBernsteinanother 20-year DLA Piper veteran, and two others from the company.
Good day and welcome to PI. One more sleep until election day. Breathe in through your nose, out through your mouth. Then send K Street gossip: [email protected]. And be sure to follow me on Twitter: @caitlinoprysko.
GOFUNDME Adds a Republic: Online crowdfunding platform GoFundMe added a Republican staffer to its public relations department ahead of the midterms and after severe scrutiny by Conservatives earlier this year. Jalen Drummonda former White House communications staffer during the Trump administration, joins the platform as director of public affairs.
– The hiring comes as Republicans appear poised to regain control of at least one chamber of Congress in tomorrow’s election. The party has vowed to address perceived censorship by conservatives on tech platforms, and GoFundMe became its newest venture to become the target of such accusations Earlier this year when it halted fundraising for the so-called Freedom Convoy of truckers protesting vaccination mandates.
— The protests have paralyzed Canada’s capital for weeks and choked off a critical trade corridor along the northern US border, and were largely funded by GoFundMe before the platform cut off the convoy, sparking anger from right-wing politicians.
— Sen. ted cruz (R-Texas) slammed GoFundMe for initially refusing to automatically refund donor funds and called on the FTC to open an investigation into the incident. Several other Republican state officials also agreed to investigate the company’s trading practices, including the Florida governor. Ron DeSantis and Attorney General of Texas Ken Paxton.
– In August, GoFundMe hired its first federal lobbyists, a team at Kountoupes Denham Carr & Reid part of it David Pelusothe former chief of staff to Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.) — likely the next chair of the powerful Energy & Commerce Committee — as well Adam Hechavarriaa former advisor to Sen. Death Young (Bark.).
I START NOW: “The $1.2 Trillion Infrastructure Act has triggered lobbying by states, local authorities and industry in search of a piece of Washington’s greatest gold hoard in a generation.” POLITICO’s Alex Daugherty and Johann Handel Report.
— “According to the watchdog group, state and local governments are poised to spend more than $103 million on federal lobbyists this year Open Secrets — the most since the former president Barack ObamaThe 2009 economic recovery became law.”
– “Other lobbying frenzy will take place in the states, which will receive the bulk of infrastructure funding based on formulas established by Congress years ago. That money will total $60 billion for the upcoming fiscal year, leading states like Kansas to try to assess which of their thousands of bridges are worth replacing or repairing.”
“‘The last time you experienced a historical shift like this was about 30 years ago,’ he said Rodney Slaterwho was US Secretary of Transportation during the Clinton administration and is now a partner in the lobbying firm Scarce Patton Boggs. Slater was referring to a 1998 law that authorized $217 billion for infrastructure investments and established much of the current funding structure for the Department of Transportation and its programs.”
– “With key decisions about infrastructure spending years away, some governments have had to get creative to get cash sooner rather than later,” while lobbying is likely to intensify “once companies and governments can start buying larger chunks of infrastructure.” to apply for money.”
– There’s also tens of billions of dollars in funding “to expand internet connectivity and advance digital justice, issues that have sparked their own waves of intense lobbying over the last year. Telecom giants, rural internet providers, and advocacy groups are all rushing to help shape broadband rollout — although states will decide over the coming year or so what that will look like.”
WHAT IS A GOP MEGADONOR IN MIND: As the shadow primary gets underway for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination, citadel chairman Ken Griffins – the party’s second-biggest donor this cycle – is ready to open his wallet to a potential White House candidate in particular, Griffin told our Shiite kapos: Florida Government Ron DeSantis.
“‘I don’t know what he’s going to do. It’s a big personal decision,” he said of DeSantis. ‘He has a tremendous record as Governor of Florida and our country would be well served with him as President.’”
As for the party’s de facto leader and youngest White House resident: “Griffin liked his fiscal policies while he was in the White House, but his only financial support for Trump was by donating $100,000 to his founding committee. “He did a lot of things really well and missed the target in a few key areas,” Griffin said. ‘And for a number of reasons, I think it’s time to move on to the next generation.'”
– Griffin also wants to “improve the GOP’s diversity and blunt the streak of populism that has complicated the party’s relationship with the corporate world — two things he has consulted with the House Minority Leader.” Kevin McCarthy around.”
HOUSING INDUSTRY PUSHES WASHINGTON FOR A BOOST: “Lobbyists are seeking help from Washington to conquer the housing market as demand tanks in response to rising interest rates and high prices”, our Katy O’Donnell reports.
– “Groups representing homebuilders, realtors and lenders are urging Congress and the White House to step in to speed up housing construction and increase affordability. With mortgage demand down more than 40% year-on-year and interest rates rising above 7% for the first time in two decades, this is an increasingly urgent appeal.”
– “Proponents are leaning on lawmakers to act before the end of the year, warning of a deadlock as Republicans poke at least one chamber of Congress back at midterm. The campaign resonates with the Biden administration. White House, Treasury Department and HUD officials are urging lawmakers to move.”
— Dan Curran and Caroline Hegemann join McKinsey & Co as directors of public affairs. Curran was most recently Senior Director of Public Affairs and Advocacy Communications Boeing and Hegeman was most recently deputy director of state policy and government relations Deloitte.
Oklahoma Strong (Sr. James Lanfordrepresentative Markwayne MullinLeadership and accountability are National Keys PAC, Boots Political Action Committee)
Committee to Select Dan Forest (PAC)
Common Sense New Yorkers Inc. (Super PAC)
For the people by the people PAC (Super PAC)
Iperionx Critical Minerals LLC: Iperionx Critical Minerals LLC
O’Brien, Gentry & Scott, LLC: Conflict Kinetics
Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP: General Standard LP
Shionogi Inc.: Shionogi Inc.
Springer Nature America Inc.: Springer Nature America Inc
Van Scoyoc Associates: Cspi Action Fund
Birch, Horton, Bittner & Cherot: Atn International
Miller Strategies, LLC: Amazon Web Services, Inc.
Mr. Mark Kopec: Hudson Sustainable Group, LLC
National Confederation of Federal Employees: National Confederation of Federal Employees
Steve Lenkart: National Association of Federal Employees
